Swivel coupling for coupling flexible and rigid tubular members in end to end relationship



July 26, 1966 H. T. DRAUDT 3,262,713

SWIVEL COUPLING FOR COUPLING FLEXIBLE AND RIGID TUBULAR MEMBERS IN ENDTO END RELATIONSHIP Original Filed Aug. 8. 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig.

INVENTOR- Heeaeer T. Dewar "W, M

ATTORNEYS 26, 1966 H. T. DRAUDT 3,

SWIVEL COUPLING FOR COUPLING FLEXIBLE AND RIGID TUBULAR MEMBERS IN ENDTO END RELATIONSHIP Original Filed Aug. 8. 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig. 3

Fig. 4

. INVENTOR. HERBERT T. D/PAUDT W ALMM M ATTOENEYQ United States Patent 3262,718 SWIVEL COUPLING FOR COUPLING FLEXIBLE AND RIGID TUBULAR MEMBERSIN END TO END RELATIONSHIP Herbert T. Draudt, North Olmsted, Ohio,assignor of one- This is a division of applicants co-pendingapplication, Serial No. 407,271, filed October 21, 1964, now abandoned,which was a continuation of applicants then copending application,Serial No. 48,091, filed August 8, 1960, now abandoned, which was, inturn, a continuation-in-part of applicants then co-pending application,Serial No. 655,381, filed April 26, 1957, now United States Patent No.3,167,330.

This invention relates to coupling means and more particularly tocoupling means for flexibly and swively joining a rigid tubular memberto and with a flexible tubular member of hose. This invention is adaptedfor use in the vacuum cleaner art and more particularly is adapted toeffect a coupling between the wand, upon which the various attachmentsare selectively mounted, and the hose, which functions as a flexibleconduit between the sweep er and the wand.

It is customary in the art to fabricate the wand from metal or asubstantially non-flexible material and to effeet the coupling betweenthe wand and the flexible hose by sliding or forcing the hose over oneend of the wand, the parts being of such relative size that the couplingthus effected is substantially air-tight and resists by friction, atleast to some degree, or by catch means, accidental disengagement.Further it has been the usual practice to equip the Wand, adjacent theend which engages the hose, with a swivel to facilitate the use of thewand and rattachrnents by increasing the ease with which the user mayturn, twist and maneuver the wand, and therefore the attachment, whenand as needed in order to effectively use the attachments.

Such swivels have been commonly made by first enlarging the end portionof the metal tube, which forms the body of the wand, to form an internalshoulder a short distance from the end of the tube, then inserting ametal tubular nipple having a flanged end within the enlarged portion ofthe tube so that the flange abuts against the shoulder and finallybending or forcing the enlarged end of the tube loosely over the flange.This structure prevented the nipple from pulling out of the tube notpermitted the tube and nipple, and therefore the tube and hose, whichwas pushed over and engaged upon the free end of the nipple, to rotateor swivel relative to each other.

Difliculty has been experienced with such apparatus, especially when thehose is formed, as it commonly is, from an extruded plastic tube withinwhich a coiled spring or wire helix is released to engage the interiorwall of the tube to shape and strengthen the same. In such instancesthere has been a marked tendency for the hose to rupture, prematurely,adjacent the inserted end of the nipple because of the wear and straininduced on the hose by the action of the end of the rigid nipple as thehose and nipple are bent relative to each other during use.

Further the conventional swivel has proven ineffective because the useof steel to steel or other bearing surfaces "ice having highcoeflicients of friction necessitated making the swivel joint so loose,in order that it would swivel at all, that air leak became excessive andthe nipple would cock and rack within the swivel joint, relative to thewand, so as to engage the wand laterally and bind against the side ofthe joint, thereby resisting and impeding relative rotational movementbetween the wand and nipple. Additionally such apparatus has provendisadvantageous because of the relatively high costs of production.

It is therefore a general object of this invention to provide animproved more eflicient coupling for detachably coupling flexible andrigid tubular members together. Another object of this invention is theprovision of a coupling for detachably coupling flexible and rigidtubular members which is produced and used with greater economy and easethan prior couplings for similar purposes and which protects theflexible tubular member from damage and wear due to bending relative tothe rigid member to which it is coupled.

Further objects of this invention include the provision of a couplingfor detachably coupling a flexible hose, and a rigid tube or member,which is flexible adjacent the flexible hose; which forms a couplingwhich resist-s leak-age of air; which, though secure against accidentaldisengagement, may be readily disengaged at the option of the user; and,which is more efficient, effective, and economical for coupling aflexible tubular member which another tubular member.

Another object of this invention is to provide a coupling, fordetachably securing a vacuum cleaner hose to and with a wand or othermember, attachment or the like, which is pleasing in appearance,effective in use, and positively but releasably locks the coupling inplace so as to prevent accidental disengagement.

Still another object of this invention is the provision of a coupling,for detachably securing a vacuum cleaner hose to and with a wand orother member, attachment or the like, which prevents and/ or mitigatesagainst the frac turing, wearing and/ or tearing of the hose in or nearthe Zone at which coupling is elfected.

A still further object of this invention is the provision of a couplinghaving the above described characteristics which includes meansproviding for rotational movement and swivelling of the one member beingcoupled relative to and independently of the other.

Other objects of this invention include the provision of a coupling, forcoupling tubular members such as vacuum cleaner tubes and wands, havingan improved, more eflicient and easier operating swivel means providingfor rotational movement of one member being coupled relative to andindependently of the other; which obviates cocking or angular lateralengagement between the members being coupled or parts of the coupling;which prevents binding and similar induced resistances to the relativerotational movement of the coupled members coupled; which resistsleakage of air; which is easily and economically manufactured and/orused; and, which obtains one or more of the objects and advantagesherein set forth.

The manner of obtaining these and other objects and advantages of thisinvention will become apparent from the following description ofpreferred and modified forms thereof, reference being had to thedrawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a longitudinal view, partly in section and partly inelevation, of a coupling embodying a preferred form of this inventionand a portion of both the wand and hose coupled thereby;

FIGURE 2 is a view similar to FIGURE 1 showing the coupling partlyassembled before the locking member is seated;

FIGURE 3 is a view, similar to FIGURE 1 showing a coupling embodying amodified form of this invention;

FIGURE 4 is a view similar to FIGURE 1 showing a coupling embodyinganother modified form of this invention.

Broadly, a coupling embodying this invention is adapted to couple a hoseor flexible tubular member to a rigid tubular member in end-to-endrelationship. The coupling includes a bearing member which is rotata-blymounted on one end of the rigid member and a bendable or flexiblecoupling member or sleeve which extends between, engages and is axiallyco-extensive with a portion 'of both the bearing member and the flexiblemember. In 'its preferred form the coupling also includes a lockingmember for detachably holding and locking the coupling in assembledrelationship with the rigid member, albeit in other forms of thisinvention the coupling member is detachably engaged with the bearingmember by other means and it is not without the scope of all of theprecepts 'and objects of this invention to fixedly secure the couplingmember to the bearing and flexible members or one of them.

More particularly, a preferred coupling embodying this invention isadapted to detachably couple a vacuum cleaner attachment hose to thelongitudinally rigid instrument or member, commonly called a wand, uponwhich the various attachments are detachably mounted. A couplingembodying this invention is particularly useful in coupling a hoseformed from a thin tube or cylinder of plastic, such as vinyl, havingdisposed therein a coiled or helical wire of slightly larger diameterthan the mean diameter of the tube. The helical wire strengthens andsupports the extruded tube so that the tube does not collapse or closeduring use, while permitting great longitudinal flexibility. Such hosehas corrugated or threadlike internal and external surfaces.

Further a coupling embodying this invention is useful for coupling hoseof the character described above either with a conventional metal wandhaving a flared end, see FIGURES 1 and 3, for example, or with a wandmade of plastic or other material, see FIGURE 4.

A coupling embodying a preferred form of this invention is indicatedgenerally at 1 in FIGURE 1, and is shown together with the hose 2 andwand 4 which are coupled thereby.

Hose 2 is of the conventional type described above and comprises a thinwalled, extruded plastic tube 5 having disposed therein a reinforcingwire 7. Wire 7 is a helix having a greater mean diameter than the meandiameter of tube 5. Thus hose 2 has a corrugated structure providingthread-like inner and outer surface and suflicient lateral rigidity toprevent the tube 5 from collapsing, but retaining great longitudinalflexibility so that the hose may be bent sharply and easily at theconvenience, necessity and will of the user.

Wand 4 comprises a rigid, hollow tube having a flange 8 on the end towhich the hose 2 is to be coupled and having means, not shown, at theother end for interchangeably mounting the cleaning attachments thereon.

When hose 2 is coupled directly to a rigid member such as wand 4, it iseasily abraded, torn or fractured adjacent the end of the Wand becauseof the relative binding and twisting which occurs and is concentrated,during use, at and about the end of the wand. Coupling 1 is adapted tocouple hose 2 and wand 4 in end-to-end relationship so that they haveeasy, eflicient rotational movement relative to each other, on the onehand, and can bend longitudinally relative to each other, on the otherhand, all without deleterious effect on the hose and substantiallywithout leakage of air between the coupling and the members coupledthereby, respectively, or between the parts of the coupling itself.Additionally, coupling 1 couples hose 2 and wand 4 together tightly andfirmly but is easily released in order to permit detachment oruncoupling of the hose and wand.

Briefly, coupling 1 comprises a cylindrical sleeve 10 having one end 11,which extends concentrically with and longitudinally along wand 4, and asecond end 13, which engages and extends concentrically with andlongitudially along hose 2. Coupling 1 also comprises a bearing member14 disposed between wand 4 and end 11 of sleeve 10 whereby wand 4 andend 11 of sleeve 10 are rotatable about their common longitudinal axis,relative to and independently of each other. Coupling 1 also includes alocking member 16 which functions to releasably secure the coupling andcoupled members together as well as to protect the coupling and toimprove the appearance thereof.

More particularly sleeve 10 is preferably a unitary member molded ofvinyl plastic having a durometer hardness on a Shore A scale of about85.

End 13 of sleeve 10 is adapted to control the sharpness of the bendingimposed on hose 2, by providing a soft, pliable edge about which thehose is bent, to concentrate the burden of relative bending between thehose and wand in the coupling 1 and more particularly within sleeve 10and to provide good, substantially air tight engagement between thesleeve and hose. Preferably end 13 engages hose 2 so as to be easilyattached and detached by the user while effectively resisting accidentaldisengagement during use, because of tension induced in the hose frompulling on the same, albeit end 13 may be glued or otherwise fixedlysecured to hose 2, if desired.

End 13 of sleeve 10 is therefore provided with walls which have athickness intermediate the thickness of tube 5 and sleeve end 11 andwith threads 17 which are complementary to and adapted to engage andcoact with the corrugations and/ or threads of hose 2. Further, when, asis preferred, wire 7 is a helix, threads 17 are preferably on theexterior of sleeve end 13 and sleeve end 13 has a diameter such as tofit within hose 2. Thus, when hose 2 is threaded on sleeve end 13 andtends to be compressed the diameter of helix 7 tends to increase therebyfacilitating the assembly of the hose on the sleeve. On the other hand,when a pull or tension is exerted on the hose 2 during use, the wirehelix 7 is or tends to be extended and contracted causing hose 2 to gripand engage sleeve end 13 more firmly. Nevertheless when desired. theuser can easily detach hose 2 from sleeve end 13 by unscrewing the same,preferably while exerting a slight compressive force on the end of thehose.

Sleeve end 11 is adapted to detachably engage bearing member 14 and tocooperate with the wand 4, bearing member 14 and locking member 16 toprovide a substantially airtight, rotational joint between the sleeve 10and the wand.

In order to facilitate assembly of the coupling, bearing member 14 ispreferably split longitudinally at 19. Bearing member 14 is preferablymade of butadiene styrene co-polymer, nylon or similar material having alow coeflicient of friction to facilitate relative rotation between itand the wand and sleeve, respectively. Bearing member 14 is preferablyrounded or chamfered, adjacent flange 8, as at 20, in order to becomplementary to and fit closely against flange 8.

Sleeve end 11 has an interior diameter such as to engage snugly thoughfreely over the exterior diameter of bearing member 14. Sleeve end 11 isof greater axial length than the bearing member so as to have a free end22 which extends axially beyond the end 23 of bearing member 14 remotefrom flange 8. End 22 of sleeve 10 is adapted to be selectivelyconstricted diametrically to have a lesser diameter than the externaldiameter of hearing member 14 so as to engage over bearing member end 23and hold sleeve 10 in position on bearing member 14.

Sleeve end 22 is constricted diametrically and coupling 1 is locked inthe assembled position against accidental release by means of lockingmember 16 and the coaction between locking member 16 and sleeve end 11including particularly end 22 thereof.

To this end the external surface 25 of sleeve end 11 is grooved orundercut, as at 26, to form an external bead lip or ridge 28 at end 22and to form a hinge-like portion whereby bead 28 is joined with the mainbody of sleeve end 11 but is able to flex and constrict independently ofthe rest of sleeve end 11 in response to radial pressures exerted onhead 28 and to have smaller internal diameter than the internal diameterof the rest of sleeve portion 11. Further bead 28 is of such size andgroove 26 of such flexibility that head 28 can be constricted so as tohave a smaller internal diameter than the external diameter of bearingmember 14.

Locking member 16 comprises a cylinder or sleeve of steel, or othersuitable material, having a suflicient rigidity and strength to displacebead 28 in the manner described below. Locking member 16 has an internaldiameter such as to provide a sliding fit over the external surface ofsleeve portion 11.

In order to engage and constrict bead 28 locking member 16 is providedwith an internal rib 29, see FIGURE 2, which is disposed so as to be inaxial alignment with bead 28 when locking member 16 is properlypositioned on sleeve 10. Rib 29 is of sufficient thickness to tightlyengage and constrict and bend bead 28 to a lesser diameter than theexternal diameter of bearing member 14 when rib 29 is engaged over head28.

In order to ensure that locking member 16 and more particularly rib 29seats and remains in proper axial alignment with sleeve 10 and bead 28and to ensure that rib 29 is not pushed over sleeve 10 sufiiciently soas to be aligned with groove 26 instead of head 28, the end of sleeveportion 11 adjacent sleeve portion 13 is provided with an external lipon flange 31 facing away from sleeve end 11 and locking member 16 isprovided with a complementary internal shoulder 32 facing away from rib29, see FIGURE 2. When shoulder 32 is pushed into engagement with flange31, rib 29 is axially aligned with and engages and radially constrictshead 28 in the manner described above to lock the coupling in theassembled position shown in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 2 shows the relative position of the groove or hinge 26, head 28,rib 29, flange 31 and shoulder 32 when the same are unstressed and justbefore locking member 16 is fully and completely seated to assemble thecoupling.

A coupling embodying preferred form of this invention is used byinserting sleeve portion 13 into a hose 2, placing bearing member 14about wand 4 adjacent flange 8 and pushing the wand and bearing memberinto portion 11 until flange 8 of wand 4 engages internal shoulder 35 ofsleeve 10 while maintaining bearing member 14 adjacent flange 8. Lockingmember 16 is then slid over the free end of wand 4 and pushed oversleeve portion 11 until shoulder 32 engages against flange 31 with rib29 engaging and constricting bead 28 into the position shown in FIG- URE1, substantially simultaneously with the seating of shoulder 32 againstflange 31.

The constricting of head 28 isnormally met with a sudden increase in theresistance to pushing the locking member over the sleeve and a poppingnoise as the bead is constricted and the hinge on groove 26 deformed.

A coupling embodying a modified form of this invention is shown inFIGURE 3, wherein like reference characters refer to like parts as inFIGURES l and 2. The modified form of coupling is indicated generally atand is shown together with the Wand 4 having flange 8, and hose 2,comprising tube 5 and reinforcing wire 7 which are coupled thereby.

The coupling 40 comprises a longitudinally extending, somewhat flexibleor elastic coupling member or sleeve 10' which is of greaterlongitudinal rigidity than hose 2. Sleeve 10' may be made from anydesirable material having the necessary resultant physicalcharacteristics but is conveniently of molded vinyl plastic, having adurometer hardness on a Shore A scale of to when of the size proportionsshown, and including a resinous plasticizer to inhibit and reduceplasticizer migration. When so formed sleeve 10 has the necessarystrength and toughness to resist the abrasive action of the end of thewand 4 when the hose and wand are bent relative to each other, as wellas the necessary flexibility and softnes s to resiliently bend to alimited degree in order to provide a smooth arcuate transition betweenthe wand and the hose while precluding abrading the hose adjacent itsown end 13' as in the preferred form of this invention.

The sleeve 10 is of generally cylindrical shape with a hollow,longitudinally extending interior. The respective end portions 11' and13 of sleeve 10' are adapted to overlap and be coextensive with aportion of the wand and hose, respectively, to the end that the same arecoupled in an end-to-end relation and the bending motion of one is nottransmitted directly to the other.

Further in order better to obtain the objects of my invention andprevent an abrupt and deleterious bending of the hose, I prefer that theportion 13' of sleeve 10' be increasingly flexible from its end adjacentportion 11' of the sleeve, rightward end as viewed, to its free end,leftward end as viewed. Thus the free end of portion 13 of sleeve 10' isadapted to :bend to a greater degree and with greater ease in responseto a given force than the rightward end, as viewed, thereof and thedegree and ease of bending of any increment of the portion 13 of sleeve10 is proportional to the relative location of such increment to therespective ends of the portion 13'. The free end of portion 13 isadapted to bend with the hose to avoid abrading the same and the portion13 of the sleeve, in its entirety, provides a smoothly bending orcurving juncture between the hose and wand. Further since portion 13 ofsleeve 14), as with the free end of portion 13 of sleeve 10, can be bentany direction in the manner of a universal joint the motion and bendingof the hose and portion 13 is not confined to a predetermined transverseplane but rather the hose may extend from the sleeve in any directionthroughout the entire 360 of .arc of a plane transverse to the axis ofthe sleeve.

Portion 13 is, also, preferably formed with external threads orcorrugations 17 so that sleeve end 13' is disposed within hose 2 in themanner and for the purpose described above with respect to end 13 ofsleeve 10, albeit end 13', as with end 13, may be internally threaded toengage over hose 2, if desired.

Coupling 40 also includes means such as longitudinally split hearing orbushing 14', which functions in the same manner and for the same purposeas bearing 14 in the referred form of this invention and is convenientlysimilar thereto.

Bearing 14' is rotatable relative to wand 4 and is detachably held inplace about the wand and against flange 8 in the assembled coupling 40by means of end 11' of sleeve 10'. To this end the end 11' of sleeve 18'preferably has an internal diameter substantially equal to but slightlylarger than the external diameter of bearing 14' and provided with aninternal flange or lip 43 which has an internal diameter greater thanthe external diameter of wand 4 but less than the external diameter ofbearing 14. Sleeve 10, also, is preferably provided with an internalshoulder 35' intermediate sleeve ends 11' and 13' against which theflange 8 abuts. The longitudinal distance between shoulder 35 and lip 43is substantially equal to or just slightly greater than the combinedlength of flange 8 and bearing 14'. Thus when coupling 40 is assembledwith sleeve 11' over bearing 14 and lip 43 engaging over the end ofbearing 14', coupling 40 is held in position longitudinally, whileproviding for relative rotation between the sleeve (and thereby thehose) and the wand. Coupling 40 is assembled by placing hearing 14'about wand 4, adjacent flange 8, and holding bearing 14' in place aboutwand 4, while expanding lip 43 of sleeve over bearing 14' and thenpushing lip 43 and end 11 of sleeve 10 along bearing 14' while holdingthe bearing against displacement away from flange 8, until lip 43 seatsover the free, right wand, as viewed, end of bearing 14, as shown inFIGURE 3.

A coupling embodying another modified form of the invention is indicatedgenerally at 45 in FIGURE 4, wherein like reference characters refer tolike parts as in FIGURES 1, 2, and 3.

Coupling 45 is an example of coupling embodying this invention andadapted for coupling hose 2 with a plastic wand 4', particularly adaptedfor use with this invention, instead of the conventional wand 4 depictedin FIGURES 1, 2 and 3.

Coupling 45 embodies a sleeve 10 which is preferably similar to thesleeve of coupling 40, FIGURE 3, and has similar end portions 11' and13, internal shoulder 35' and lip 43 and coupling 45 is adapted tocouple and coact with hose 2 in the same manner as couplings 1 and 49.

As shown in FIGURE 4, the wand 4 is provided with an externalcircumferential shoulder 46, which is spaced from the end 48 of thewand, by a distance equal to or just slightly greater than the distancebetween the lip 43 and shoulder 35' of sleeve 10. Wand 4' also has anexternal, circumferential groove 49, which is spaced from the face ofshoulder 46 and nearer the end 48 of wand 4 by a distance equal to oronly slightly larger than the longitudinal thickness of lip 43. Shoulder46 and portion 11' of sleeve 10' conveniently have the same externaldiameter.

Coupling 45 is provided with a preferably split bearing 51, which, aswith bearings 14 and 14, may be either a unitary or multiple piecestructure, and which functions for the same purpose as bearings 14 and'14 in couplings 1 and 40, respectively.

Bearing 51 is shown, by way of example, as a unitary structure having aninwardly facing lip or flange 52 adapted to seat in groove 49, whenbearing 51 is disposed over wand 4'. When properly positioned on wand4', bearing 51 extends from groove 49 toward the end 48 of wand 4', isrotatable about and relative to the wand and, is held in place about andagainst wand 4 by the interlock between the groove 49 and lip 52 and byits spring or natural tendency to assume its most efiicient(cylindrical) shape. The internal diameter of bearing 51 is equal to oronly slightly larger than the adjacent external diameter of wand 4. Theexternal diameter of bearing 51 is greater than the internal diameter oflip 43 on sleeve 10 and preferably less than the diameter of theshoulder 46 by an amount equal to about twice the diametrical thicknessof the end portion 11 of the sleeve 10'.

The bearing 51 is positioned by expanding the same sufliciently topermit the lip 52 to slide over the end 4-8 of wand 4' and then pushingthe bearing along the wand until the lip seats in the groove 49. Sleeve10 of coupling 45 is then seated over bearing 51 in the same manner thatit is seated over bearing 14' in assembling coupling 40.

Modifications, changes and improvements to the above described andillustrated preferred and modified forms and embodiments of thisinvention may occur to those skilled in the art, who come to understandthe principles and precepts thereof, without departing from the spiritand substance of the invention. Accordingly it is desired that the scopeof the patent obtained hereon not be limited to the forms andembodiments of the invention herein particularly described and set forthbut only consistent with the advance by which the invention has promotedthe art.

I claim:

1. In combination a flexible tubular member having an end, a rigidtubular member and means for coupling said members in end to endrelationship, said flexible tubular member comprising a hollow flexibletube and a wire helix of greater mean diameter than the mean diameter ofsaid tube disposed therein, said flexible tubular member having acorrugated surface, said rigid tubular member comprising a hollow rigidtube having a flanged end, said coupling means comprising a unitaryelongated, hollow, flexible sleeve of greater rigidity than saidflexible tubular member and a bearing member, said bearing membercomprising a hollow, longitudinally split bush-ing and being disposedabout said rigid tubular member in snug rotatable engagement therewithand adjacent said flange and having a relatively low co-efficient offriction with said rigid tubular member, said sleeve having two endportions, one said end portion of said sleeve extending longitudinallyand concentrically with a portion of said flexible tubular memberadjacent said end thereof and having a surface engaging said corrugatedsurface of said flexible tubular member, the other said end portion ofsaid sleeve being disposed over and in engagement with said bearingmember and extending longitudinally and concentrically with said rigidtubular member and bearing member for a portion of the length of saidrigid tubular member and for the total length of said bearing member,said other end portion of said sleeve having an integral, inwardlyextending circumferential lip at the end thereof remote from said oneend portion of said sleeve, said lip having an internal diameter greaterthan the external diameter of said rigid tubular member and less thanthe external diameter of said bearing member, said bearing memberengaging and extending between said flange of said rigid tubular memberand said lip of said sleeve.

2. In the combination of a rigid tubular member having an end, aflexible tubular member having an end, and a coupling for coupling thetubular members in end to end relationship, the improvement that saidcoupling comprises a unitary, elongated, hollow sleeve having first andsecond end portions, said first end portion of said sleeve being inlongitudinally extending engagement with said flexible tubular memberand having an axis concentric therewith,

'said first end portion of said sleeve being flexible but less flexiblethan said flexible tubular member and bending with and modulating thebending of said flexible tubular mem ber about said axis, said secondend portion of said sleeve extending longitudinally and concentricallywith said rigid tubular member, said coupling also comprising a bearing,said bearing being disposed between and engaging said rigid tubularmember and said second end portion of said sleeve and providing forrelative rotational movement therebetween, said second end portion ofsaid sleeve having an internal lip overlapping said bearing, said liphaving an internal diameter less than the external diameter of saidheating and greater than the external diameter of said rigid tubularmember, a portion of said rigid tubular member having a greater diameterthan at least a portion of said hearing more remote from said end ofsaid rigid tubular member than said portion of said rigid tubularmember.

3. The combination according to claim 2 in which said last named portionof said rigid tubular member comprises a flange on said end of saidrigid tubular member, said flange is disposed within said second endportion of said sleeve, and said bearing is disposed between said flangeand said lip of said sleeve, respectively.

4. The combination according to claim 2 in which said rigid tubularmember has an exterior circumferential groove longitudinally spaced fromsaid end of said rigid tubular member, said bearing member comprises abushing having a relatively low coefiicient of friction with said rigidtubular member and having an internal circumferential lip and beingdisposed about said rigid tubular member adjacent said end thereof withsaid lip of said bushing in said groove, said bushing being in snugrotatable engagement with said rigid tubular member, said last namedportion of said rigid tubular member being the portion thereof betweensaid end and said groove.

5. In the combination of a rigid tubular member having an end, anothertubular member having an end, and

a coupling for coupling the tubular members in end to end relationship,the improvement that said coupling comprises a unitary, hollow,longitudinally extending sleeve and a bearing member, said sleeve havingone end portion being flexible and extending longitudinally andconcentrically with said rigid tubular member and a second end portionengaging said other tubular member, said bearing member comprising alongitudinally split bushing having a relatively low coefficient offriction with said rigid tubular member and being mounted on said rigidtubular member adjacent said end thereof and in any rotatable engagementtherewith, and being within and in snug engagement with said one endportion of said sleeve, an inwardly extending lip on said one endportion of said sleeve and overlapping said bearing member, said liphaving an internal diameter greater than the external diameter of saidrigid tubular member and less than the external diameter of said bearingmember, an exterior circumferential groove in said rigid tubular memberand longitudinally spaced from said end thereof, and an internalcircumferential lip on said bearing member and disposed in said grooveand preventing said bearing member from displacing longitudinally offsaid one end of said rigid tubular member.

6. In combination a flexible tubular member, a rigid tubular member andmeans for coupling said members in end to end relationship, said meanscomprising an elongated hollow sleeve, a bearing member and a lockingmember, said bearing member being mounted on said rigid tubular memberadjacent one end thereof, being rotatable on and relative to said rigidtubular member and having an end remote from said one end of said rigidtubular member, said sleeve having end portions and an externalshoulder, one end portion of said sleeve being flexible but of greaterrigidity than said flexible member and engaging and extendinglongitudinally and concentrically with a portion of said flexiblemember, the other end portion of said sleeve engaging said bearingmember and extending longitudinally and concentrically with said bearingmember and said rigid tubular member for a portion of the length of saidrigid tubular member, said other end portion of said sleeve having abead at the end thereof remote from said one end portion of said sleeveand a groove adjacent said bead and nearer said one end of said sleevethan said bead, said groove forming hinge means in said other endportion of said sleeve between said bead and the remainder of said otherend portion, said locking member being disposed about said sleeve andhaving an internal shoulder engaged against said external shoulder ofsaid sleeve and an internal arcuate rib engaging said bead andconstricting said bead to have a lesser internal diameter than theexternal diameter of said bearing member, said bead being adjacent saidend of said bearing member and more remote from said one end portion ofsaid sleeve than said end of said bearing member, and a flange on saidone end of said rigid tubular member, said flange being of greaterexternal diameter than the internal diameter of said bearing member.

7. The combination according to claim 6 in which said locking membersubstantially covers and conceals said said sleeve.

8. The combination according to claim 6 in which said one end portion ofsaid sleeve extends within said flexible tubular member.

9. A coupling for coupling a rigid tubular member having an end toanother tubular member in end to end relationship, said couplingcomprising a hollow, tubular, longitudinally extending sleeve and abearing member, said bearing member being adapted to be mounted on saidrigid tubular member adjacent one end thereof, said sleeve having oneend portion engaging over said bearing member and extendinglongitudinally and concentrically with said rigid tubular member andsaid bearing member and having a second end portion extendingconcentrically with said another tubular member, said bearing memberproviding for rotation of said sleeve relative to said rigid tubularmember, said coupling also comprising means retaining said bearingmember and sleeve in position on said rigid tubular member, said lastnamed means comprising a bead in said one end portion of said sleeve andspaced from said second end portion of said sleeve, a groove in said oneend portion of said sleeve adjacent said bead and forming hinge means insaid one end portion of said sleeve intermediate said bead and saidsecond end portion of said sleeve, a hollow cylindrical locking memberdisposed about said sleeve and having an internal rib engaging said beadand constricting said bead to have a lesser internal diameter than theexternal diameter of said bearing member, said bead being adjacent butmore remote from said second end portion of said sleeve than the end ofsaid bearing most remote from said second portion of said sleeve andmeans preventing said bearing member from displacing longitudinally offsaid one end of said rigid tubular member.

10. The combination according to claim 9 in which said locking membersubstantially covers and conceals said sleeve.

11. In combination a flexible member, a rigid member and means forcoupling said members in end to end relationship, said means comprisingan elongated hollow sleeve and a bearing member, said bearing memberbeing mounted on said rigid member adjacent one end thereof, one portionof said sleeve being in engagement with and extending longitudinally andconcentrically with a portion of said flexible member, another portionof said sleeve engaging said bearing member and extending longitudinallyand concentrically with said bearing member and said rigid member for aportion of the length of said rigid member, said sleeve being rotatablerelative to said rigid member, said bearing member having an end remotefrom said one portion of said sleeve, and means retaining said bearingmember on said rigid member, said last named means comprising a bead atthe end of said sleeve remote from said one portion of said sleeve, agroove in said sleeve adjacent said bead and nearer said one end portionof said sleeve than said bead, said groove forming hinge means betweensaid bead and the remainder of said sleeve, an external shoulder on saidsleeve intermediate said portions thereof, and a hollow cylindricallocking member disposed about said sleeve, said locking member having aninternal shoulder and an internal arcuate rib, said internal shoulderengaging said external shoulder of said sleeve, said rib engaging saidbead and constricting said bead to have a lesser internal diameter thanthe external diameter of said bearing member, said bead being adjacentsaid end of said bearing member and more remote from said one portion ofsaid sleeve than said end of said bearing member, a part of said rigidmember intermediate said one end thereof and said bead having a greaterexternal diameter than the least internal diameter of said bearingmember nearer said bead.

12. In combination a flexible member, a rigid member and means forcoupling said members in end to end relationship, said means comprisingan elongated hollow sleeve, having end portions and an externalshoulder, a bearing member and a locking member, said bearing memberbeing mounted on said rigid member adjacent one end thereof, beingrotatable on and relative to said rigid member and having an end remotefrom said one end of said rigid member, one end portion of said sleevebeing flexible but of greater rigidity than said flexible member andengaging and extending longitudinally and concentrically with a portionof said flexible member, the other end portion of said sleeve engagingsaid bearing member and extending longitudinally and concentrically withsaid bearing member and said rigid member for a portion of the length ofsaid rigid member, said other end portion of said sleeve having a beadat the end thereof remote from said one end portion of said sleeve and 11 a groove adjacent said bead and nearer said one end portion of saidsleeve than said bead, said groove forming hinge means in said other endportion of said sleeve between said bead and the remainder of said otherend portion, said locking member being disposed about said sleeve andhaving an internal shoulder engaged against said external shoulder ofsaid sleeve and an internal arcuate rib engaging said bead andconstricting said bead to have a lesser internal diameter than theexternal diameter of said bearing member, said bead being adjacent saidend of said bearing member and more remote from said one end portion ofsaid sleeve than said end of said.

bearing member, a part of said rigid member intermediate said one endthereof and said bead having a greate eggternal diameter than the leastinternal diameter of said bearing member nearer said bead.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Yonkers 2857Humphrey 285239 Martinet 2857 Myers 285-231 Kasper 2857 Brock 2857Kemnitz 285239 Great Britain.

CARL W. TOMLIN, Primary Examiner.

T. F. CALLAGHAN, Assistant Examiner.

1. IN COMBINATION A FLEXIBLE TUBULAR MEMBER HAVING AN END, A RIGIDTUBULAR MEMBER AND MEANS FOR COUPLING SAID MEMBERS IN END TO ENDRELATIONSHIP, SAID FLEXIBLE TUBULAR MEMBER COMPRISING A HOLLOW FLEXIBLETUBE AND A WIRE HELIX OF GREATER MEAN DIAMETER THAN THE MEANS DIAMETEROF SAID TUBE DISPOSED THEREIN, SAID FLEXIBLE TUBULAR MEMBER HAVING ACORRUGATED SURFACE, SAID RIGID TUBULAR MEMBER COMPRISING A HOLLOW RIGIDTUBE HAVING A FLANGED END, SAID COUPLING MEANS COMPRISING A UNITARYELONGATED, HOLLOW, FLEXIBLE SLEEVE OR GREATER RIGIDITY THAN SAIDFLEXIBLE TUBULAR MEMBER AND A BEARING MEMBER, SAID BEARING MEMBERCOMPRISING A HOLLOW, LONGITUDINALLY SPLIT BUSHING AND BEING DISPOSEDABOUT SAID RIGID TUBULAR MEMBER IN SNUG ROTATABLE ENGAGEMENT THEREWITHAND ADJACENT SAID FLANGE AND HAVING A RELATIVELY LOW CO-EFFICIENT OFFRICTION WITH SAID RIGID TUBULAR MEMBER, SAID SLEEVE HAVING TWO ENDPORTIONS, ONE SAID END PORTION OF SAID SLEEVE EXTENDING LONGITUDINALLYAND CONCENTRICALLY WITH A PORTION OF SAID FLEXIBLE TUBULAR MEMBERADJACENT WITH END THEREOF AND HAVING A SURFACE ENGAGING SAID CORRUGATEDSURFACE OF SAID FLEXIBLE TUBULAR MEMBER, THE OTHER SAID END PORTION OFSAID SLEEVE BEING DISPOSED OVER AND IN ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID BEARINGMEMBER AND EXTENDING LONGITUDINALLY AND CONCENTRICALLY WITH SAID RIGIDTUBULAR MEMBER AND BEARING MEMBER FOR A PORTION OF THE LENGTH OF SAIDRIGID TUBULAR MEMBER AND FOR THE DIAL LENGTH OF SAID BEARING MEMBER,SAID OTHER END PORTION OF SAID SLEEVE HAVING AN INTEGRAL, INWARDLYEXTENDING CIRCUMFERENTIAL LIP AT THE END THEREOF REMOTE FROM SAID ONEEND PORTION OF SAID SLEEVE, SAID LIP HAVING AN INTERNAL DIAMETER GREATERTHAN THE EXTERNAL DIAMETER OF SAID RIGID TUBULAR MEMBER AND LESS THANTHE EXTERNAL DIAMETER OF SAID BEARING MEMBER, SAID BEARING MEMBERENGAGING AND EXTENDING BETWEEN SAID FLANGE OF SAID RIGID TUBULAR MEMBERAND SAID LIP OF SAID SLEEVE.